Britain, EU states to intensify fight against Russia's shadow fleet

Britain and the countries of the European Union are going to strengthen inspections of the Russian oil fleet. There will likely be new sanctions against shadow fleet tankers, writes Bloomberg.

The states plan to issue a so-called "call to action" at a meeting of European leaders in Britain on Thursday.

"Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ poses a threat to our nations and others who depend on the world’s seas and oceans," according to the document, which could still change before it’s signed later this week. "Many ships in this ‘shadow fleet’ are uninsured and poorly maintained. Many engage in activities which violate basic safety and environmental standards and regulations," says the draft of the document, which is going to be approved at the meeting.

With the help of a shadow fleet, which consists mainly of old tankers, Russia circumvents sanctions in the form of restrictions on oil prices.

The West began to fight the Russian shadow fleet from the fall of 2023. First, the USA, and then the European Union and Britain imposed sanctions against individual tankers. These measures made it possible to reduce the shadow fleet by around 50 ships. Some of them have been idle for months.

Only three of the 53 sanctioned vessels have been able to load cargoes since being blacklisted.

In June 2024, the first signs appeared that Russia began to form another shadow fleet for the transportation of gas.